Disorders of the cardiovascular system are one of the most common health problems among humanity. Studies have been conducted that have proven that they are much more common among urban residents than among those who spend most of their time in rural areas. In addition, diseases in this category are "getting younger", developing in people under 40 years old. One of the most common pathologies of this type is hypertension. This is a steady increase in blood pressure above average.
Symptoms (signs) of hypertension
The manifestations of the disease depend on the stage of development at which it is found. Normally, blood pressure is between 110 and 130 for 70 and 90 mmHg. Depending on the severity of the disease, in critical cases it can reach levels from 260 to 110. This disease threatens human health and life. At the same time, in the early stages, hypertension can only be expressed by slight malaise, increased fatigue and headaches. As the pathology develops, its course also becomes more complicated. The most dangerous condition is a hypertensive crisis - a sharp increase in blood pressure. The general symptoms of the disease are:
- headache, feeling of tightness, especially in the back of the head and temples;
- noise and ringing in the ears;
- "spots, " spots, a veil before the eyes;
- decreased visual acuity;
- deterioration of spatial coordination and fine motor skills;
- tremors, numbness in arms and legs;
- nausea and vomiting.
Signs of hypertension appear to varying degrees depending on the stage of the disease. Deterioration of the disease occurs gradually, often throughout life. There are three stages of development of the disease:
- I - with blood pressure readings of 140-160 for 90-100 mmHg;
- II - at a pressure of 160-180 per 100-110 mmHg;
- III - when the upper limits of the second floor are exceeded.
A constant increase in pressure leads to malfunctions of the heart, the most common consequence of which is the development of coronary heart disease. There is also a risk of developing a heart attack or stroke.
Causes of hypertension
The nature of diseases of the cardiovascular system has not been fully studied by specialists. A particular difficulty lies in the fact that such disorders are often formed during the period of intrauterine development and appear much later. At the same time, it is not always possible to notice and study the onset of the disease. Most often, hypertension occurs in combination with the following disorders:
- kidney diseases;
- vascular pathologies;
- renal artery obstruction;
- pathologies of the thyroid gland;
- disturbances in the functioning of the adrenal glands;
- smoking and drinking alcohol;
- insufficient or excessive physical activity.
Such causes provoke a secondary form of the disease, that is, a form that develops under the influence of provoking factors. Signs of hypertension generally appear between the ages of 35 and 40. The main subtype of the disease is caused directly by congenital pathologies of blood vessels or heart. The following factors additionally increase the risk of developing hypertension:
- age over 55;
- obesity;
- high cholesterol levels;
- genetic predisposition;
- diabetes mellitus;
- hormonal disorders;
- frequent stress and depression.
Blood pressure levels are directly affected by diet. Certain foods – dark chocolate, coffee, alcohol – can cause an increase in blood pressure. Saturated fats, spices and sugar affect the condition of blood vessels and the chemical composition of blood, which also indirectly affects the increase in blood pressure. It has been proven that smoking often leads to disease.
Which doctor should I contact?
The manifestation of symptoms of hypertension requires mandatory medical intervention in the early stages. Delay can provoke the development of complications and lead in the future to such serious conditions as stroke and heart attack. Prompt diagnosis will significantly reduce the risk. The doctor will help you solve the problem:
One of the most important points in identifying a disease is determining its root causes, especially if hypertension is secondary. In this case, the effectiveness of treatment will not be high without eliminating the prerequisites for pathology. To deal with this, the doctor must clarify the clinical picture as much as possible. To do this, he will ask the following questions:
- What symptoms are you worried about?
- How long ago did they start appearing?
- How often do hypertensive attacks occur?
- Are they linked to external factors?
- Does the patient have heart, kidney, or endocrine disease?
- What kind of life does he lead?
- What symptomatic treatment does he use in case of seizures?
After that, an external examination will be carried out with listening to the heart and measuring blood pressure. Additionally, laboratory analyzes of urine and blood, hardware tests are prescribed and differential diagnostic tools are used.
Methods for treating the disease
The scheme of influence on pathology is based on the causes of hypertension in each individual case. It is also important to determine whether it is primary or secondary in nature, since the main goal of the impact depends on this. All of this information allows the specialist to construct an optimal individual treatment plan. Most often this includes the following steps:
- control of body weight through diet;
- perform physical exercises of varying intensity;
- take diuretic medications;
- use of antitachycardia drugs;
- take adrenergic blockers;
- use of antispasmodics and painkillers;
- use of medications containing potassium.
The treatment regimen is strongly influenced by the stage of the disease. In the first stage, it is sometimes possible to even do without medications, while the second and third stages require fairly large doses or strong drugs. To treat high blood pressure, only conservative treatment is used.
Diagnosis of hypertension
Detection of pathology requires observations over a period of time with constant monitoring of results. This helps determine whether it is a primary trait and whether there are any associated disorders. In this case, the differential diagnosis method is used. It includes the following steps:
- Repeated blood pressure measurements. It is performed on both arms, in a sitting or standing position, depending on age. The accuracy is about 85%.
- Daily pressure monitoring is a procedure that allows continuous monitoring over a specified period of time using portable equipment. The cost depends on the duration of monitoring required. The accuracy exceeds 95%.
- Urine and blood laboratory tests. Determine the quantitative and qualitative composition of liquids and the rate of chemical reactions in the body. The accuracy is around 75%.
- Chest x-ray. Allows you to visually assess the condition of the heart. Accuracy - less than 70%.
For possible cardiac pathologies, an electrocardiogram is prescribed. Additionally, an ultrasound of the abdominal cavity can be performed to determine the condition of the kidneys and fundus diagnosis if vision deteriorates.
Possible complications
The symptoms of hypertension affect a significant part of the organs and systems that are not directly related to blood circulation. However, overall health depends on the quantity and quality of nutrients and oxygen carried by the fluid current. Severe hypertensive attacks can cause the following problems:
- vascular deformations;
- coronary heart disease;
- renal pathologies;
- threat of stroke and heart attack;
- blurred vision due to damage to the eye vessels;
- development of the "cor pulmonale";
- exercise intolerance.
The possibility of complications of varying severity depends on the stage of the disease. In the initial and intermediate stages, attacks can be supplemented by nosebleeds, attacks of vomiting and tachycardia. If the situation worsens significantly, loss of consciousness, heart failure and damage to the integrity of blood vessels are possible. The most serious conditions are seizures, heart attacks and strokes.
Risk groups
Many people wonder what kind of disease hypertension is, because the prevalence of this problem is very wide. At the same time, pathology usually affects people of working age - from 20 to 45 years old, although a few decades ago the threshold was much higher. Not everyone is equally likely to develop this disorder. The following groups are particularly at risk:
- people with increased body weight and obesity;
- those whose activities are associated with intense physical activity or, conversely, with a lack of physical activity;
- people with a genetic predisposition to high blood pressure;
- live in ecologically polluted areas;
- smokers and alcoholics;
- people who do not monitor the fat and carbohydrate content of their diet;
- those who have been diagnosed with serious heart, liver or kidney disease.
Pathology does not make a preference between men and women - the statistics for both sexes are approximately the same. However, due to more frequent alcohol consumption and difficult working conditions, the risk for the stronger sex is slightly higher. In women, the disease usually develops between the ages of 55 and 60, and in men - between 65 and 70.
Prevention of hypertension
Protecting yourself from cardiovascular diseases is not always easy, since many of them are caused by congenital characteristics of the body or by age. However, preventive measures will always have a positive effect on the situation and on health in general. Hypertension can develop due to poor lifestyle choices, so correcting certain aspects of it will be beneficial. The recommendations are:
- promptly treat all diseases provoking hypertension - heart, blood vessels, blood, kidneys;
- stick to a daily routine;
- avoid lack of sleep and overwork;
- maintain a healthy diet - avoid foods high in fat and cholesterol, alcoholic beverages, strong tea and coffee;
- engage in moderate physical activity and avoid a sedentary lifestyle;
- undergo regular preventive examinations;
- take vitamin and mineral complexes recommended by your doctor to stay healthy.
Hypertension can only be avoided by maintaining the general well-being of the body. Several systems influence the formation of this disease, so prevention only with pills or exercise will not be effective. An important stage in its implementation is the timely diagnosis of accompanying and provoking factors.